Bowling ball



April 30, 1963 R. H. WATTERLOHN 3,087,727

BOWLING BALL Filed April 4, 1960 g ooo no 50 50 (Q 7 IN VEN TOR.

Roman-rum United States Patent 3,087,727 BOWLING BALL Roy H. Watterlohn, 8836 N. Central Ave., Morton Grove, Ill. Filed Apr. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 19,748 9 Claims. (Cl. 273-63) This invention relates to a bowling ball and more par ticularly to a calibrated bowling ball.

It is essential for a uniform or predictable delivery of a bowling ball of the type used in ten pins to be able to hold the ball in the same position, or known different positions, relative to the bowling hand at the start of the bowlers approach. With balls known hitherto it has been very difficult for bowlers to hold the ball uniformly.

An object of the invention is to provide a bowling ball which may be held in a recognizable position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowling ball with readily visible and interpretable markings thereon for orienting the position of a hand holding the ball at the start of the approach of a bowling delivery.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bowling ball having a thumbhole and a visible line extending from the thumbhole along the periphery of the ball to indicate the position of the hand holding the bowling ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowling ball having a thumbhole and a series of marks extending in lines from the thumbhole peripherally along the ball at angles relative to the other lines and with each line having a mark at a predetermined distance from the thumbhole to indicate the wrist angle of the hand.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a bowling ball forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which the single FIGURE is a top plan view of a bowling ball forming one embodiment of the invention.

The invention provides a calibrated bowling ball having a thumbhole and a plurality of visible marks spaced from the thumbhole above the thumbhole so that the position of the uppermost mark indicates to the bowler both the rotative position of the hand or wrist relative to the bail and also the angular position of the hand relative to the Wrist or the extent that the hand is under the ball. Preferably the marks are disposed so as to form lines extending from the thumbhole, the lines forming angles relative to one another and in such positions that the uppermost line indicates the direction that the thumb extends from the hand, for example, the l2 oclock, 11 o'clock, 10 oclock or 9 ocloek position.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, a bowling ball shown therein includes a spherical body portion 1 constructed of the usual known hard rubber or plastic material. The ball body has a thumbhole 2 therein and a pair of fingerholes 3 and 4 positioned relative to one another in a known manner such as to fit the grip of the bowler. A plurality of lines 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 extending from the thumbhole are formed by arrow-shaped marks 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a and 9a, diamond shaped marks, 5b, 5c, 6b, 6c, 6d, 71), 7c, 7d, 8b, 8c, 8d, 7b, 9c, and 9d and dots 5e, 6e, 7e, 8e and 9e. The marks are of a color or colors contrasting to the color of the body of the ball so as to be readily discernible and preferably are of hard rubber or plastic material inlaid in undercut holes in the body of the ball so as to interlock with the body and form portions of the spherical surface of the ball. Each line, when in its uppermost position, lies in a vertical plane passing through the center of the ball and the thumbhole, and adjacent ones of the lines are in planes at 30 relative to each other. Inlaid numerals 9," 105" l1, 12

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and 1 adjacent the lines 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, respectively, are provided so that the uppermost numeral identifying the direction that the thumb extends from the palm of the bowling hand, the uppermost numeral indicating the clock position of the thumb. For example, with the line 5 uppermost as the bowler holds the ball in his right hand, the right thumb extends in the 9 oclock direction, the numeral 9 identifying that position to him. Thus, by always positioning the ball so that the desired line is uppermost, that is at the uppermost part of the ball, the bowler will have a known precise thumb direction.

The lines 5 to 9 extend sufiicien tly from the thumbhole that in holding the ball in a normal start position, one of the marks 5a to 9e will be at or very near the very top of the ball, and by positioning a desired one of these marks at the top of the ball. a known precise extent of the bowling hand is under the ball. Thus, the angle of the hand relative to the wrist may be duplicated each time the bowler starts to bowl. Preferably, the marks 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a and 9a are all at the same distance from the thumbhole. The marks 5!), 6b, 7b, 8b and 9b also are all the same distance from the thumbhole, and this equidistance is true of the marks 50 to and 5a? to 9d. The circular marks 5e to 96 form minor subdividing mark-s between the larger or major arrow and diamond marks.

To throw .a straight ball, the bowler holds the ball with his right thumb in the 12 oclock position, the line 8 being uppermost. For a slight curve, the bowler holds the ball at the start of the approach with the line 7 uppermost and a desired one of the marks 7a to 7e at the top. The lines 5 and 6 are for larger curves, and the mark 9 is for a backup curve when uppermost. Thus the ball is calibrated completely for all desired types of throws. Also, each line when uppermost constitutes an aiming line for the spot on the alley or pin toward which the bowler intends to throw.

It is to be understood that while the above calibrations on the ball relative to the positions of the thumb and hand for the start of the delivery and throw of the ball are in the form of lines. marks such as letters, numerals or other indicia arranged above and around the thumbhole also may be employed to precisely orient the position of the hand. For example, the letter S for straight may be positioned to be at the top when the thumb is directed upwardly relative to the palm of the hand, with an "H" for book up at the 10 oclock position and a B" for back up at the 1 o'clock position. Other calibrations within the scope of the invention also will be apparent to the bowling art from the above described ball.

What is claimed is:

l. A bowling ball having a thumbhole and at least one fingerhole and also being provided with a plurality of marks on lines extending forwardly and upwardly from the thumbhole as the bowling ball is held in a start posi tion so that when the hand is manipulated to a selected position in which the bowler makes ready for the approach and in which the ball is in front of the bowler with the thumb held at substantial distances behind and below the top of the ball a predetermined one of the marks is at the uppermost pant of the ball.

2. A bowling ball having a thumbhole and fingerholes, the ball also having marks radiating in lines from the thumbhole forwardly and upwardly to the top of the ball from the thumbhole when the ball is held in the start position in which the bowler holds the ball with the thumb at approximately the rearmost portion of the ball and below the top of the ball.

3. A bowling ball having a thumbhole and a fingerhole and also provided with a subdivided line extending from the thumbhole over the top of the ball when the ball is held in a predetermined position at the start of an approach in which the thumbhole is positioned a substantial distance below the top of the ball and at a substantial distance directly behind the top of the ball and the ball is held at approximately waist height or higher.

4. A bowling ball having a thumbhole and a fingerhole and also provided with a plurality of spaced marks substantially equidistant from the thumbhole and positioned forwardly of the thumbhole and substantially to the top of the ball when the ball is held for the start of an approach in which the thumbhole is a substantial distance below and behind the uppermost portion of the ball.

5. A bowling ball having a thumbhole and at least one fingerhole and also having a plurality of marks arranged in lines radiating from the thumbhole, each line being at an angle relative to the other lines and comprising a series of spaced major marks and a series of spaced minor marks between the major marks, the major marks being arranged in a plurality of arcs concentric to the thumbhole, the marks being so arranged that when the ball is held by a bowler in positioning the ball for an approach in a position with the thumbhole at substantially the rearmost position of the ball the ball is positioned with a selected one of the lines extending substantially directly ahead.

6. A bowling ball having a thumbhole and one fingerhole and also having an aiming line extending from the thumbhole over the top of the ball when the ball is held by the bowler at the start of an approach with the thumbhole at the back of the ball a substantial distance and below the top of the ball a substantial distance.

7. A bowling ball having a thumbhole and at least one fingerhole and also having a plurality of marks spaced along a line extending upwardly from the thumbhole over the top of the ball when the ball is held at the start of a delivery in a position in which the thumbhole is at the back of the ball a substantial distance and below the top of the hall a substantial distance.

8. A bowling ball having a thumbhole and at least one fingerhole, and also provided with a plurality of contrasting marks spaced a predetermined distance apart and forwardly from the thumbhole and in such positions that a selected one of the marks may be located at the top of the ball when the ball is held for the start of an approach with the thumbhole positioned substantial distances behind and below the uppermost part of the ball.

9. The bowling ball of claim 6 wherein the aiming line includes an arrowshaped portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,372,958 Keith Apr. 3, 1945 2,372,959 Keith Apr. 3, 1945 2,375,663 Kennedy May 8, 1945 2,566,511 Bassi Sept. 4, 1951 2,925,273 Pratt Feb. 16, 1960 

1. A BOWLING BALL HAVING A THUMBHOLE AND AT LEAST ONE FINGERHOLE AND ALSO BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF MARKS ON LINES EXTENDING FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FROM THE THUMBHOLE AS THE BOWLING BALL IS HELD IN A START POSITION SO THAT WHEN THE HAND IS MANIPULATED TO A SELECTED POSITION IN WHICH THE BOWLER MAKES READY FOR THE APPROACH AND IN WHICH THE BALL IS IN FRONT OF THE BOWLER WITH THE THUMB HELD AT SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCES BEHIND AND BELOW THE TOP OF THE BALL A PREDETERMINED ONE OF THE MARKS IS AT THE UPPERMOST PART OF THE BALL. 